Articulated filling and dispensing ladle mechanism

ABSTRACT

A ladling mechanism for transferring molten metal from a holding vessel directly to the entry port of a die cast machine including a tiltable stem-pour type ladle mounted on a vertically extending arm pivotal in vertical plane about its base between a ladle fill position near the holding vessel and a die fill position near the entry port of the die case machine and operative means cooperatively associated with the arm and the ladle whereby in one position a charge of molten metal is dipped from the holding vessel and in the other position the molten metal is poured directly into the entry port of the die cast machine.

United States Patent [1 1 Blagg ARTICULATED FILLING AND DISPENSING LADLE MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Charles D. Blagg, Anderson, Ind.

[73] Assignee: General Motors Corporation,

Detroit, Mich.

22 Filed: May 15,1972

21 Appl.No.:253,180

1,458,685 6/1923 Davis 164/336 June 19, 1973 2,064,734 12/1936 Crawford l64/336X Primary Examiner--Samuel F. Coleman 35L999KQE 'EQZZPEQS $1 2925??? Attorney-Wham S. Pettigrewand George A. Grove [5 7] ABSTRACT A ladling mechanism for transferring molten metal from a holding vessel directly to the entry port of a die cast machine including a tiltable stem-pour type ladle mounted on a vertically extending arm pivotal in vertical plane about its base between a ladle fill position near the holding vessel and a die fill position near the entry port of the die case machine and operative means cooperatively associated with the arm and the ladle whereby in one position a charge of molten metal is dipped from the holding vessel and in the other position the molten metal is poured directly into the entry port of the die cast machine. a

3 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure ARTICULATED FILLING AND DISPENSING LADLE MECHANISM This invention relates to die casting methods and apparatus and, more particularly, to an improved ladle construction for transferring molten metal from a holding furnace to the entry port of a die casting machine.

Conventional cold chamber die casting machines comprise a stationary cover die and a movable ejector die, which define a die cavity therebetween. A shot sleeve extends through the cover die through which molten metal is injected into the die cavity by means of a plunger rod reciprocal within the shot sleeve. ln operation, when the dies are closed and locked and the plunger rod is retracted, molten metal is laddled through the entry port of the shot sleeve. Then, an injection cylinder is actuated which moves the plunger rod forward first closing off the entry port to the shot sleeve and then forcing the molten metal into the die cavity under high pressure. After the metal has soliditied, the dies are opened, the casting is stripped from the dies, and the plunger rod is retracted in the shot sleeve to a position ready for the next casting cycle.

Further in conventional die casting operations, the molten metal to be cast is typically contained in a holding vessel near but spaced horizontally from the die casting machine. In order to transfer molten metal from the holding vessel and into the shot sleeve it is necessary to ladle a mass of molten metal from the vessel, transport it to the shot sleeve, and pour a measured charge into the sleeve through the entry port. It is known in the art to use ladles having a container portion adapted for dipping and a stem portion through which molten metal flows from the container portion to the entry port of the die cast machine, and to pivot the ladle between the holding furnace and the die cast machine. However, in such prior art devices the ladle is typically pivoted about a point beneath substantially the center of the ladle and the actuating mechanisms for pivoting and tilting the ladle are typically too bulky to allow the ladle to be positioned close to the entry port of the die cast machine. Consequently, the molten metal must be poured from the ladle through a transfer trough which funnels the metal into the entry port of the die cast machine. This procedure results in increased tumbling the molten metal as it flows down the transfer trough resulting in increased oxidation of the metal and formation of unwanted gas bubbles.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide an improved ladling mechanism which in one position dips a charge of molten metal from a holding vessel and in another position is operative to pour the molten metal from the ladle directly into the entry port of the die cast machine.

in the preferred embodiment of the invention, this object is accomplished by providing an improved ladling mechanism for transferring molten metal from a holding vessel directly to the entry port of a die cast machine including a vertically extending arm pivotal in a vertical plane about its base between a ladle fill position near the holding vessel and a die fill position near the entry port of the die cast machine, a generally horizontally disposed ladle support member pivotally connected to the arm tiltable between the ladle and die fill positions, and a ladle mounted on the support including an open container portion and a pouring stem portion.

An hydraulic cylinder is pivotally connected to the vertically extending arm for moving the arm between the ladle and die fill positions, and another hydraulic cylinder extends between and is pivotally connected to the ladle support member and the arm for lowering the container portion of the ladle into the holding furnace in the ladle fill position and for raising the container portion above the pouring stem portion in the die fill position to a level such that in the die fill position molten metal will flow from the container portion through the stem portion to be discharged directly into the entry port of the die cast machine.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which is a side elevational view of the ladling mechanism with portions of the holding furnace and die cast machine shown in section.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, there is shown a shot sleeve 10 of a die: cast machine (not shown) including an entry port 12 in the top thereof. Spaced horizontally from the die cast machine and the shot sleeve 10 is a holding vessel 14 adapted to contain a suitable heat of molten metal 15 to be cast.

The preferred ladling mechanism embodying this invention comprises a base support 16 located between and below the holding vessel 14 and the entry port 12 to the shot sleeve 10, and an elongated generally vertically extending arm 18 which is pivotally connected to the base support 16 at its lower end 20 at point 22. The arm 18 is movable in a vertical plane normal to the plane of the shot sleeve 10 between a ladle fill position (shown in dotted lines) near to the holding vessel 14 and a die fill position (shown in solid lines) near to the entry port 12 of the shot sleeve 10. A generally horizontally extending elongated ladle support member 24 is pivotally connected at its one end 26 to the upper end 28 of the arm 18 at point 30 and includes a downwardly extending arm portion 32 spaced from the end 26 in the direction of the holding vessel 14.

A ladle 34 comprising an open container portion 36 extending in the direction of the vessel 14 and a hollow stem portion 38 terminating in a discharge end 40 is rigidly mounted on the ladle support member 24, e.g., by means of a dovetail joint 42 (shown in dotted lines). The ladle 34 is mounted on the support member 20 at a point below the stem portion 38 and toward the discharge end 40 such that the stem portion 38 extends slightly past the end 26 of the support member 24.

The piston 44 of a hydraulic cylinder 45 is pivotally connected to the lower end 20 of arm 18 at point 46 and is operative to move the arm 18 between the ladle fill position and the die fill position. Another hydraulic cylinder 48 extends between the downwardly extending arm 32 of the support member 24 and the arm 18 with the piston 50 of the cylinder 48 being pivotally connected to arm 32 at point 52 and the cylinder portion 54 thereof being pivotally connected to the arm 18 at point 56.

In operation, when the entry port 12 is open and the shot sleeve 10 is ready to receive a shot of molten metal 16, the hydraulic cylinder 45 is actuated and the piston 44 reciprocal therein is extended to pivot the arm 18 connected to the base 16 about point 22 such that the arm 18 moves to the ladle fill position (shown in dotted lines) near the vessel 14. In the ladle fill position, the piston 50 reciprocal within the cylinder portion 54 of the hydraulic cylinder 48 is in its retracted position such that the open container portion 36 of the ladle 34 is immersed in the molten metal 115 in the holding vessel 14. Cylinder 48 is then actuated extending the piston 50 thereby pivoting the ladle support member 24 upwardly about point 30 and lifting the container portion 36, now containing a mass of molten metal, out of the vessel 14. Simultaneously, piston 44 is retracted with the arm 18 being pivoted about base 16 toward the die cast machine. Asarm 18 is being moved from the ladle fill to the die fill position the position of the ladle container portion 36 of the ladle 34 is maintained at a level below that of the stem portion 38 to prevent the flow of molten metal down the stem portion.

When the arm 18 is fully pivoted, the discharge end 40 of ladle 34 is in close proximity to the entry port 12 of shot sleeve 10. Cylinder 48 is now actuated extending the piston 50 thus pivoting the ladle 34 mounted on the support member 24 upwardly about pivot point 30 located near the discharge end 4(1) of the ladle 34. The container portion 36 is thereby raised to a level above the stem portion 38 whereby a measured charge 58 of molten metal flows from the container portion 36, through the stem portion 38, and directly into the entry port 12 of the shot sleeve 10.

Although the invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment, it will be recognized that other forms may be adopted within the scope of the invention. For example, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the ladling mechanism may be automatically controlled in sequence with the die casting operation.

I claim:

1. A ladling mechanism for transferring molten metal from a holding vessel to the entry port of a die casting machine spaced horizontally from one another, said mechanism comprising a base located between and below said vessel and said entry port, an elongated generally vertically extending arm pivotally connected at its lower end to said base and being movable in a vertical plane between a ladle fill position near to said vessel and a die fill position near to said entry port, a generally horizontally extending elongated ladle support member pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of said arm and being tiltable between said ladle fill position and said die fill position, said support member having a downwardly extending portion spaced from its said one end in the direction of said vessel, a ladle mounted on said support member comprising an open container portion and a hollow stem portion with said container portion extending in the direction of said vessel and said stem portion terminating atsaid one end of said ladle support, actuating means connected to said arm at said lower end for moving said arm between said ladle fill position and said die fill position, and actuating means connected to said downwardly extending portion of said ladle support member and to said arm for lowering said container portion into said molten metal in said ladle fill position and for raising said container portion above said stem portion in said die fill position to a level such that said molten metal will flow from said container portion through said stem portion to be discharged directly into said entry port.

2. A ladling mechanism for transferring molten metal from a holding vessel to the entry port of a die casting machine spaced horizontally from one another, said mechanism comprising a base located between and below said vessel and said entry port, an elongated generally vertically extending arm pivotally connected at its lower end to said base and being movable in a vertical plane between a ladle fill position near to said vessel and a die fill position near to said entry port, a generally horizontally extending elongated ladle support member pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of said arm and being tiltable between said ladle fill position and said die fill position, said support member having a downwardly extending portion spaced from its said one end in the direction of said vessel, a ladle mounted on said support member comprising an open container portion and a hollow stem portion with said container portion extending in the direction of said vessel and said stem portion terminating at said one end of said ladle support, hydraulic cylinder means pivotally connected to said arm at said lower end for moving said arm between said ladle fill position and said die fill position, and hydraulic cylinder means extending between and pivotally connected to said downwardly extending portion of said ladle support member and to said arm for lowering said container portion into said molten metal in said ladle fill position and for raising said container portion above said stem portion in said die fill position to a level such that said molten metal will flow from said container portion through said stem portion to be discharged directly into said entry port.

3. A ladling mechanism for transferring molten metal from a holding vessel to the entry port of a die casting machine spaced horizontally from one another, said mechanism comprising a base located between and below said vessel and said entry port, an elongated generally vertically extending arm pivotally connected at its lower end to said base and being movable in a vertical plane between a ladle fill position near to said vessel and a die fill position near to said entry port, a generally horizontally extending elongated ladle support member pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of said arm and being tiltable between said ladle fill position and said die fill position, said support member having a downwardly extending portion spaced from its said one end in the direction of said vessel, a ladle mounted on said support member comprising an open container portion and a hollow stem portion with said container portion extending in the direction of said vessel and said stem portion terminating at said one end of said ladle support, hydraulic cylinder means pivotally connected to said arm at said lower end for moving said arm between said ladle fill position and said die fill position, and hydraulic cylinder means extending between and pivotally connected to said downwardly extending portion of said ladle support member and to said arm for lowering said container portion into said molten metal in said ladle fill position and for raising said container portion above said stem portion in said die fill position to a level such that said molten metal will flow from said container portion through said stem portion to be discharged directly into said entry port, said hydraulic cylinder means being simultaneously operable between said ladle fill and said die fill positions. 

1. A ladling mechanism for transferring molten metal from a holding vessel to the entry port of a die casting machine spaced horizontally from one another, said mechanism comprising a base located between and below said vessel and said entry port, an elongated generally vertically extending arm pivotally connected at its lower end to said base and being movable in a vertical plane between a ladle fill position near to said vessel and a die fill position near to said entry port, a generally horizontally extending elongated ladle support member pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of said arm and being tiltable between said ladle fill position and said die fill position, said support member having a downwardly extending portion spaced from its said one end in the direction of said vessel, a ladle mounted on said support member comprising an open container portion and a hollow stem portion with said container portion extending in the direction of said vessel and said stem portion terminating at said one end of said ladle support, actuating means connected to said arm at said lower end for moving said arm between said ladle fill position and said die fill position, and actuating means connected to said downwardly extending portion of said ladle support member and to said arm for lowering said container portion into said molten metal in said ladle fill position and for raising said container portion above said stem portion in said die fill position to a level such that said molten metal will flow from said container portion through said stem portion to be discharged directly into said entry port.
 2. A ladling mechanism for transferring molten metal from a holding vessel to the entry port of a die casting machine spaced horizontally from one another, said mechanism comprising a base located between and below said vessel and said entry port, an elongated generally vertically extending arm pivotally connected at its lower end to said base and being movable in a vertical plane between a ladle fill position near to said vessel and a die fill position near to said entry port, a generally horizontally extending elongated ladle support member pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of said arm and being tiltable between said ladle fill position and said die fill position, said support member having a downwardly extending portion spaced from its said one end in the direction of said vessel, a ladle mounted on said support member comprising an open container portion and a hollow stem portion with said container portion extending in the direction of said vessel and said stem portion terminating at said one end of said ladle support, hydraulic cylinder means pivotally connected to said arm at said lower end for moving said arm between said ladle fill position and said die fill position, and hydraulic cylinder means extending between and pivotally connected to said downwardly extending portion of said ladle support member and to said arm for lowering said container portion into said molten metal in said ladle fill position and for raising said container portion above said stem portion in said die fill position to a level such that said molten metal will flow from said container portion through said stem portion to be discharged directly into said entry port.
 3. A ladling mechanism for transferring molten metal from a holding vessel to the entry port of a die casting machine spaced horizontally from one another, said mechanism comprising a base located between and below said vessel and said entry port, an elongated generally vertically extending arm pivotally connected at its lower end to said base and being movable in a vertical plane between a ladle fill position near to said vessel and a die fill position near to said entry port, a generally horizontally extending elongated ladle support member pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of said arm and being tiltable between said ladle fill position and said die fill position, said support member having a downwardly extending portion spaced from its said one end in the direction of said vessel, a ladle mounted on said support member comprising an open container portion and a hollow stem portion with said container portion extending in the direction of said vessel and said stem portion terminating at said one end of said ladle support, hydraulic cylinder means pivotally connected to said arm at said lower end for moving said arm between said ladle fill position and said die fill position, and hydraulic cylinder means extending between and pivotally connected to said downwardly extending portion of said ladle support member and to said arm for lowering said container portion into said molten metal in said ladle fill position and for raising said container portion above said stem portion in said die fill position to a level such that said molten metal will flow from said container portion through said stem portion to be discharged directly into said entry port, said hydraulic cylinder means being simultaneously operable between said ladle fill and said die fill positions. 